BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1509
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 1509 (Fox)
As Amended August 19, 2014
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |64-5 |(May 28, 2014) |SENATE: |36-0 |(August 21, |
| | | | | |2014) |
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Original Committee Reference: V.A.
SUMMARY : Requires, by July 1, 2015, the Department of Veterans
Affairs to develop a California transition assistance program
(CalTAP) for veterans who have been discharged from the Armed
Forces of the United States or the National Guard of any state
as specified.
The Senate amendments are mostly technical in nature. The
amendments move the intent language previously to be included in
the code into the findings and declarations section and add
language declaring the further intent of the Legislature that
the Department of Veterans Affairs utilize the work and research
produced by the California Interagency Council on Veterans
Employment (ICV) CaLTAP Sub-Workgroup.
EXISTING LAW : The Federal Transition Goals, Plans and Successes
(TGPS) program, formerly known as TAP, was established to offer
job search assistance and other related services to separating
members of the military during their transition into civilian
life. TGPS is comprised of a partnership among the Federal
Departments of Labor, Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans
Affairs. With this partnership, separating service members and
their eligible spouses receive employment and training
information within one year prior to separation or two years
prior to retirement from the military.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, approximately $200,000 in one-time costs to develop
the program (General Fund). The Department of Veterans Affairs
indicates the need for two limited term analysts (Associate
Governmental Program Analysts) for development of the program.
Actual implementation costs are unknown at this time and will be
determined after the plan is completed.
AB 1509
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COMMENTS : According to the author:
Service members of the armed forces participating in
the TGPS attend comprehensive three-day workshops at
selected military installations worldwide (the makeup
and form of the workshops vary by service type).
However, the curriculum for these workshops is
entirely maintained by the federal government, leaving
little to no state specific employment, education,
business and other career choices information.
Work to create a Cal TAP has already started. Created
by Governor Jerry Brown on August 23, 2011 through
Executive Order B-09-11, the California Interagency
Council on Veterans (ICV) works to "identify and
prioritize the needs of California's veterans, and to
coordinate the activities at all levels of government
in addressing those needs."
Within the ICV, one priority of the ICV Employment
CalTAP Sub-workgroup is to "provide a post military
transitional assistance program for veterans returning
to California." AB 1509 creates a vehicle for the ICV
workgroup to fully implement its number one priority.
TGPS is an improvement on the previous federal TAP. However, in
some respects it still falls short:
1)TGPS is implemented by a federal contractor which controls the
curriculum. The ability of the State of California to bring
in California-specific information to TGPS is severely
limited. CalTAP would focus on California-specific
information.
2)Servicemembers receive TAP in the state where they discharge,
thus, to the extent there is any state-specific information
included in the version of TGPS they experience, it is for the
state of discharge, not the state of servicemembers residence
after discharge. CalTAP would, of course be given in
California to any veteran, regardless of where he or she
discharged from the military.
3)Finally, one of the criticisms of TAP was that servicemembers
may need some time after leaving the military in order be
ready to make their post-military plans. As was TAP, TGPS is
AB 1509
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available to servicemembers only prior to their separation or
discharge from military service. CalTAP would be available to
veterans after discharge, at a time of the veteran's choosing.
This bill only requires the department to develop a program,
and, as noted by the fiscal analysis, funding program
implementation would be the subject of further analysis and
legislative action.
Analysis Prepared by : John J. Spangler / V. A. / (916)
319-3550
FN: 0005335